Sponge mop with variably spaced wringer rollers



Jan. 10, 1956 c, ROGERS 2,729,840

SPONGE MOP WITH VARIABLY SPACED WRINGER ROLLERS Filed Dec. 28, 1951 I Z 6 IegVENTOR. EVANT 06525. E Y

" WYW United Sttes Patent Ofiice 2,729,840 Patented Jan. 10, 1 956 SPONGE MOP WITH VARIABLY SPACED WRINGER ROLLERS This invention relates to improvements in sponge mops, and more particularly to a sponge mop of the type having a wringing attachment formed as a part thereof and of the type disclosed in Patent No. 2,108,727, dated February 15, 1938.

Mops of the character under consideration include (a) a cleaning element in the nature of a sponge formed of rubber, synthetic rubber or cellulose material, having a portion thereof gripped in a channel in compressed condition so that the portion which projects from said channel flares laterally from the channel; (b) a carrier which arches the channel and which journals wringer rollers located at opposite sides of the cleaning element and adapted to traverse the same, said parts being completed by (c) a handle to which one of the first named parts is attached (:1) a lever means shiftably mounted on the handle and connected to the other of the first named parts so that movement of the lever relative to the handle causes the roller unit to traverse the flared sides of the sponge, compressing the same and extracting liquid therefrom.

In devices of this character the throw or travel of the roller carrier relative to the sponge must be regulated carefully so that the rollers do not run past the free edge of the sponge and thus prevent the free working of the device. It will be apparent that, if the rollers do pass beyond the free edge of the sponge, the sponge will be permitted to expand behind the rollers and will prevent return of the rollers to an inoperative position alongside the sponge-mounting channel. The care used to avoid such a situation usually entails a shortening of the wringing stroke to terminate spaced from the free edge of the sponge. This reduces the effectiveness of the wringing action by retaining some liquid in the sponge.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide a device in which the stroke of the wringer rollers terminates short of the free edge of the sponge but is compensated by a converging movement of the rollers as the end of the stroke is approached, thereby increasing the compression of the sponge and compensating for the failure of the wringer rollers to traverse the entire height of the side walls of the sponge.

A further object is to provide a device of this character having a sponge-cleaning element flaring from a carrier which is spanned by an arch member shiftable relative thereto and including pivoted leg portions, to the free end of which wringer rollers are journaled, and wherein said pivoted leg portions are normally urged to one position by said sponge and are interconnected by a toggle engageable with the sponge carrier near the end of the wringing stroke to pivot said legs in a manner to move said rollers inwardly toward each other and thereby increase the compression of said sponge.

A further object is to provide a device of this character which is simple in construction, inexpensive, light in weight, compact, easy to operate, and which possesses all other advantages of a sponge mop having a wringing attachment formed as a part thereof.

Other objects will be apparent from the following specification.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side view of the device.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view of the device in front elevation.

Fig. 3 is a top view of the device with parts shown in section, taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a transverse detail sectional view taken on line 55 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing which illustrates the preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 10 designates a cleaning unit, the numeral 12 a wringing unit, the numeral 14 a handle, and the numeral 116 a lever unit. These parts are so connected and related that when the lever is shifted relative to the handle a wringing action occurs between the cleaning unit 10 and the wringing unit 12, in which the parts move relative to each other in a manner to extract liquid from the cleaning element.

The cleaning element 10 includes an elongated channel 20, preferably formed of metal or other rigid material and having a back or web portion 22 and a pair of leg portions 24 projecting from the web 22 and converging toward each other adjacent their free ends. The marginal portions 26 of the channel legs may flare outwardly, as best seen in Fig. 5. Within this channel is mounted a cleaning element 28 formed of compressible material, such as a rubber sponge, a synthetic rubber sponge, or a synthetic cellulose sponge, and may be laminated as seen in Fig. 1. The sponge is of the same length as the channel and is of considerably greater width than the channel so that the portion 30 thereof which is confined within the channel is compressed, and the portions of the side walls 32 of the sponge which projectfrom the channel flare outwardly, as best illustrated in Fig. 1, thereby providing a bottom surface 34 which is of arcuate cross-sectional shape.

In the construction here illustrated the cleaning unit 10 is secured to the handle 14 in fixed relation. A metal ferrule or split sleeve 40 is mounted upon one end of the handle 14, said ferrule preferably including ears 42 which are drawn together by securing means, such as a screw-threaded bolt 44 having a thumb nut 46 threaded thereon. The ferrule 40 has projecting from its end an enlarged plate portion 48, and this plate portion is adapted to extend into face engagement with one of the side flanges 24 of the metal channel. The plate portion 48 also includes a pair of abutment ears 50 positioned at opposite sides thereof. The plate 48 forms one part of a clamp, and the other part of said clamp constitutes a plate bent to the configuration best shown in Fig. 1. This clamp includes a jaw portion 52 adapted to bear against and engage the leg 24 of the channel opposite that which is engaged by the plate 48, an intermediate portion 54- bent angularly from the jaw portion 52 and adapted to bear against the top or web 22 of the channel, an angularly bent portion 56 extending substantially perpendicularly from the channel web 22, and abutment flanges 5-8 extending spaced from and substantially par-' allel to the portion 54 and adapted for edge engagement with the abutment members 50 of the plate 48.

Securing members, such as screws 60 and wing nuts 62, interconnect the clamp portion 56 with the clamp plate 48 so that when the securing means is drawn tight, the clamp consisting of parts 52, 54, 56 and 58 will fulcrum about the end engagement of its flanges 58 with the plate 48, thereby causing the clamp flange 52 to swing toward the free end of the plate 48 and to grip the sides 24 of the channel. The clamp preferably engages the central portion of the sponge-holding channel 3 and has contact with a substantial portion of the total length of said channel. The channel is preferably provided with a pair of notches or slots 64 located in substantially equispaced relation to. its opposite ends; and spaced apart a distance greater than the distance of the length of the channel clamps. The slotspreferably are formed as best illustrated in Fig.. 5 being; cut-t atthe junctions of the flanges 24'with.the web 22 and? extending slightly into said web 22 and for a greater. extent in the flanges 24:

The lever member 16- is preferably elongated and is mounted. upon a bellcrank member including a pair of legs70 whose free ends are joined togetherand have fixedly secured thereto. by the rivets 72. or: other securing means one end of the lever 16. The bellcrank: has second leg; portions 74 extendingangularly therefrom. The intermediate portion of the bellcrank is pivoted to the. sleeve 40 at 76. The bellcrankarms 74 preferably converge inwardly andhave pivotal connection at 78 with the. eye 80 offan eye-bolt 82.

The; wringing unit! 12 of the device comprises a rigid arch member having a central web or backing portion 86 and end members 88. The end. members 88 aretpreferably bifurcated to provide twoleg; portions 90. The leg portions 90 are rigid and fixed with'respect to each other and preferably extend parallel: toeachother. The inner edges or" adjacent leg. portions preferably diverge outwardly and at their outer or free ends are'spaced apart a distance greater than the widthof. the sponge-mounting channel 22, 24. The back 86 of thewchannelis apertured' to receive the eye-bolt 82- theretlirough, and a nut 92 isthreaded on said bolt and serves" to interconnect the bellcrank 70, 74 and the lever'16'with the channel; The

length of the channel, that is, thespacing of'the legs 90" at the opposite ends of the channel; preferably coincides with the spacing of the slots 64in: the channelaand the connection of the channel with the remainingv parts of the device through the eye-bolt 80 serves to maintain said legs in alignment withzthesaid toggle slots 64.

At its free end'each leg 90' of the channel has pivoted thereto at 94 the intermediate portion-of alever plate 96.

One end of the lever plate extends longitudinally beyond the free end of each leg 90' and is apertured to journal a shaft 98 which is preferably of a length substantiallyequal to the channel 24 and the sponge element and which mounts thereon the roller members 100, the same constituting a central portion or unit located between the opposite ends of the'channel' 86,88 and end portions located on the portions of the shaft 98=projectingoutwardly relative to said channel 86, 88. The inner ends of the levers 96 have pivoted thereto at 102 link members 104 which are in turn pivotally connected together at 106 to define a toggle. Each of the levers 96 is notched or cut away at 108 at its inner edge intermeiate the pivots 94 and 102, and a pin 110'is carried by each channel leg 90' and is adaptednormally to engage the lever 96 at itsnotch The normal position of the parts is illustrated in Fig. 1. Inthis position the rolls 100 rest upon the flared edges 32 of the sponge 28 and hold the wringing unit 12 in an inoperative elevated position. This position in turn controls the position of the bellcrank 70, 74 and the lever 16 urging the latter to a position adjacent to and alongside the handle 14' in a compact and out of the way arrangement of the parts. The sponge has suflicient expansive action and inherent shape-retaining properties to hold the wringing unit 12 and the lever. 16 in the inoperative Fig. l position. The same action, that is, the expansive action of the sponge 28, presses laterally outwardly against the lower ends of the levers 96, thereby causing them to assume a position in which the. notchededges 108 bear against the pins 110'. The toggle links 104 are positioned clear of. the back or web 22 of the channel, asbest seen in Fig; l.

When it is desired to wring the mop, the user grasps the handle 14 and the lever 16 and swings the two relative to each other and away from each other to shift the parts so that the relative motion between the sponge and the rollers occurs until the parts reach a position as illustrated in Fig. 4 with the rollers contacting the sponge adjacent the lower: or. free end of the surfaces 32. During the initial. relative. movement of the sponge unit 10'and the wringing unit 12,.thespacing of the rollers 100 and their shafts 98 remains constant with the notched levers 96 engaging the1pins'110; As theparts approach the end of the wringingaction, the toggle members 104, 106 engage the back 22" of the channel; Thereafter, continued movement of the. parts. toward the Fig. 4 position, for example, continued downward movement of the roller carrier relative to the sponge carrier, will cause pivoting of the toggle links 104 toward extended position, thereby increasing the spacing between their pivots 102i and swinging the upper ends of the levers 96' outwardly and swinging the lower ends of the: levers 96. with. their bars 93 and rollers 100 inwardly toward each. other. This action increases the compression exerted uponthesponge element. Consequently, substantially the. same compression or liquid-extracting action. can be secured by this construction. with the. rollers terminating short of the bottom edges of the sides ofv the sponge as would occur if the rollers traverse the sponge. toits bottom edge. in aconstruction in which. the wringer rollers were to maintain a constant spacing throughout their full. stroke.

The extent to which liquid is extracted from the sponge can be regulated by controlling the stroke. or throw of the device. This is accomplished in the presentv device by changing the setting of the nut 92 upon: the. eye-bolt 82. Assuming that the parts are in the position illustrated in Fig. 2, rotation of the nut to run' it. toward the upper free end of thereye-bolt will introduce free play and will shorten the stroke of the wringing action'of the device.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described herein, it will be understood that changes in construction may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing. from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A cleaning device comprising a handle, a cleaning unit including a carrier and an expansiblev cleaning element mounted by and projecting from said carrier, a wringing unit, one unit being mounted on said handle, actuating means carried by said handle and connected'to' the other unit to shift the other unit relative. to said first unit and thereby wring said cleaning element, said wringing unit including a rigid member having two spaced fork portions each arching said carrier. and having. two leg portions, a lever pivoted to. each fork leg, wringer rolls extending along opposite sides of said. element and journaled by adjacent levers, and toggle means extending transversely of and above said carrier and connecting adjacent levers, said toggle means having itscentral portion located below the level of the connection of its end portions with said levers, whereby its central portion engages said carrier to pivot said toggle when said actuating means is operated; V

2. A cleaning device comprising'a handle, acleaning unit including a carrier and an expansible cleaning element mounted by and projecting from said carrier, a wringing unit, one unit being mounted on said. handle, actuating means carriedby said handle and connected to the other unit to shift the other unit relativeto said first unit and thereby wring said: cleaning element, said wringing unit including a rigid member having two spaced fork portions each arching; said carrier and. having two leg portions, a lever pivoted to each. fork. leg, wringer rolls extending. along opposite" sides of said element and journaled by adjacent levers, and toggle means extend- 5 6 ing transversely of said carrier and connecting adjacent References Cited in the file of this patent levers, stop means for limiting pivoting of each lever UNITED STATES PATENTS in one direction, said cleaning element normally urging said levers against said stop means, the central portion 1702'885 q m 1929 of said toggle means engaging said carrier to pivot the 5 22241462 Wdhams 1940 toggle means when the actuating means is operated. 2235264 Rogers 1941 

